“Death in the Air” is a murder mystery set in the aviation industry of the 1930’s. It tells the story of an unknown lone airplane pilot who is shooting down planes, and officials are determined to catch him. They go through numerous plans they hope will reveal the killer. Director Elmer Clifton (“Rip Roaring Riley” 1935) crafted an exciting movie that holds viewers’ attention throughout its 69 minute running time.
The production values are of the highest quality, including the screenplay by Charles R. Condon and Bernard McConville, cinematography by James Diamond and Arthur Reed, and editing by Carl Himm. All help this motion picture hold up over the decades. The exciting and realistic flight footage is especially noteworthy.
The cast includes Henry Hall as the airport manager determined to get to the bottom of the mess, Lona Andre as the love interest, and John Carroll, Leon Ames, Hans Joby, Gaston Glass, Pat Somerset, Wheeler Oakman, and Reed Howes as the seven pilots under suspicion.
“Death in the Air” was an independent movie production, and therefore did not receive much exposure in theaters in general release. The film was known by a number of different names such as “Pilot X: Murder in the Sky” or “The Mysterious Bombardier” or simply “Pilot X.” It is available on DVD in recent years.
Death in the Air (1936)
cinema
My Review
“Death in the Air” is a murder mystery set in the aviation industry of the 1930’s. It tells the story of an unknown lone airplane pilot who is shooting down planes, and officials are determined to catch him. They go through numerous plans they hope will reveal the killer. Director Elmer Clifton (“Rip Roaring Riley” 1935) crafted an exciting movie that holds viewers’ attention throughout its 69 minute running time.
The production values are of the highest quality, including the screenplay by Charles R. Condon and Bernard McConville, cinematography by James Diamond and Arthur Reed, and editing by Carl Himm. All help this motion picture hold up over the decades. The exciting and realistic flight footage is especially noteworthy.
The cast includes Henry Hall as the airport manager determined to get to the bottom of the mess, Lona Andre as the love interest, and John Carroll, Leon Ames, Hans Joby, Gaston Glass, Pat Somerset, Wheeler Oakman, and Reed Howes as the seven pilots under suspicion.
“Death in the Air” was an independent movie production, and therefore did not receive much exposure in theaters in general release. The film was known by a number of different names such as “Pilot X: Murder in the Sky” or “The Mysterious Bombardier” or simply “Pilot X.” It is available on DVD in recent years.